[EAS] Cable TV Problems

[Ed Czarnecki]

Regarding the "This is a Test" text/slide issue for cable operators ... at
the urging of several cable MSOs (just a month or so before the national
test), we developed and introduced a software update for the R189 OneNet
that allowed a cable operator to insert the text "*** This is a test" before
and after the Nov. 9th EAN message.  However, the timing of the request, and
the necessarily regression testing process at cable operators, made it very
difficult to adopt by most operators in time for the test.  We tried to be
very clear with both the Federal agencies and our cable customers about the
limited time cable operators would have to analyze, test, and field this
update.  Still, here is a youtube video somebody captured from a cable
system on Nov 9th - the output is from a OneNet (cable version of a DASDEC):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6j-DxilH9I&feature=related

Regarding Adrienne's question about adding additional text into a cable
slate, our answer would be the similar for a crawl on a television station.
For cable systems, the OneNet would output any additional text - for example
from the expanded text of a CAP message - via baseband, SCTE18/DVS168, or
other means.  For legacy EAS, we developed a protocol called TDX that might
be worth taking a second look at, as it could carry some of the additional
text content in a CAP message over EAS.  That could better help synch the
payloads of the two warning paths.

Regarding "once size does not fit all," perhaps Barry should add this mantra
into the footer of EAS list messages :^)   It does fit a lot of the
discussions here of late.  However, I wouldn't necessarily relish a "single
solution imposed from above."

For the present, cable systems are configured so diversely - even within
MSOs, cable plant can vary dramatically from one region to the next.  It's
not just a matter of the set top box, or the headend control systems, it’s
the interplay of various systems on both sides of the network.

Edward Czarnecki, Ph.D. 
Senior Director – Strategy, Development & Regulatory Affairs  |  Monroe
Electronics Inc.  |  Digital Alert Systems
email ed.czarnecki at monroe-electronics.com | www.monroe-electronics.com
| www.digitalalertsystems.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On
Behalf Of Barry Mishkind

At 04:08 PM 12/1/2011, Adrienne  Abbott wrote:
>Eric wrote: My cable system (and the many others I have seen recently) 
>does a perfectly fine job of running a crawl and audio through my cable 
>box so that it goes on top of whatever I am watching (even a previously 
>recorded show).
>
>Your cable system must have all-new equipment and all-new set top boxes.
>Ours (here in Nevada) do not. What subscribers here see depends on the 
>age and type of set top box that they received from the cable company.

        Please forgive the following message if you 
        have seen it before:

        One size does not fit all.

        Solutions appear to exist, but a single solution
        imposed from above seems like it is
        still somewhere ahead of us....

  

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